Water-meter.



E. E. GAMON.

WATER METER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1909.

953,199.. Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

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WITNESSES.

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this UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. GAMON, OF- LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

WATER-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

Applidation filed February 16, 1909. Serial No. 478,304.

My invention relates to improved means to protect water meters from injury, due to freezing, whereby, the internal pressure is increased above a predetermined safe maximum. v I am aware that many appliances for purpose have been made and used embodymgweakened sections or resilient iston sections, but these are objectiona 1e, first, because of the likelihood of flooding when the weakened section ru tures, an second, because of the unreliab1ity of the springs.

I propose to overcome the above objec tions by having a deformed or indented section or cap desi ed to readily assume its original shape w on the pressure passes the safe maximum, but does not rupture. In the deformed plug style, the mere fact that the original form is resumedwould indicate that the pressure had gone above the maximum, either from freezing or other cause.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a p an view of a water meter with frost plug attached. Fig. 2 is a section of my preferred form of plug, shown inserted in the meter case. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the plu Fi". 4 shows a frost plug inserted in an cl bow, and Fig. 5 shows a modification of the deformed plug. 7

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawthe drawings, A represents a water meter of any usual ty e, provided with threaded holes or ports ,in which 111 improved frost plugs B may be inserted: the shank B being provided with screw-threads for the purpose. The head of the lug B is shown hexagonal, so' that a wrenc ma be used thereon. The plug B is shown'ho low or tubular, as at B, but is closed by a spun cup-shaped lining 0 having the outwardly extending bottom 6" deformed by being from other causes, the bottom flared out or bellows-like at (l and pressed back into the cup so as to reduce the cubical contents thereof. The deformed cup-shaped section G is made of metal sufiiciently rigid to withstand the predetermined maximum safe ressure for the appliance to which it is attac led, and yet soft enough to assume the original form, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the pressure exceeds this maximum without bursting the bottom C. The

p deformed cup-shaped member C may be secured to the inside of the plug B b solderin or other suitable means, but prefer spinning the rim C back over the inwardly projecting flange B of the plug B, as shown 1n Fig. 2, and thus form a water-tight and pressure-resisting joint.

When the meter or other a pliance provided with my improved plu as been subjected to abnorma pressure b freezing or of the cupshaped lug head will be forced out, and ultimate y assume approximately the shape indicated by the dotted lines G in Fig. 2. When the meter has been frozen, the bulgedout bottom 0 of the on -like head indicates it, and'the watershoul be turned ofl and a new deformed plug inserted. a

A modified form of the deformed cupshaped section C of the plu B is-shown in Fig. 5, in which several 01 s C are shown.

' This form can be used if more capacity is desired.

-I claim:

1. An attachment for water meters capable of permitting a permanent increase in volume of said water meter under excessive pressure, comprising a hollow insertible plug,

and a non-elastic cup-like member havin the bottom infolded to reduce the volume 0 said member but capable of being restored to its original volume, said cup-like member extending outwardly from said, lu and being sealed therein by turning t e rim of tllie cup-like member over one end of said p u 2 An attachment for water meters capable of permitting a permanent increase in volume of said water meter under excessive pressure, comprising a hollow insertible plug, and a corru ated non-elastic cup-like member havin t e bottom infolded to reduce the volume 0 said member but capable of being restored to its original volume, said corrugated cup-like member extending outwardly from said plug and being sealed therein by turning the rim of the cup-like member over one end of said 'plug.

3. An attachment for water meters capable of permitting a permanent increase in volume of said Water meter under excessive pressure, comprising a screw-threaded hollow insertible plug and a. non-elastic collapsed metallic member having the bottom and outside infolded to reduce the volume of said member, but capable of being restored to its original volume, said member extending outwardly from said plug and being sealed therein by turning the rim of the cup-like member over one end of said plug. 15

- This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of Feb. 1909.

ERNEST E. GAMON. 

